Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-01-16
DARING ROBBERS
Five Masked Thieves Board a Panhandle
Train
4 FEW NILES OUT OF PITTSBURG
A Large Quantity Of Arms Thrown Out
Near Cork Run Tunnel.
AN EMPLOYE OF THE ROAD SHOT.

PIrTsBURG, January 1i.-One of the
most daring schemes to rob train that
has been tried in this section of the State
for years past was attempted last night
near Sheridan's station, on the Pam Handle
railroad, not more than four miles from
this city. The second section Of the west
bound through freigh train No. 81 left the
city Panhandle yards shortly after seven
o'clock last night A number of the cars
were loaded entirely with Winchester
rifles, reyolvers, ammunition and valises.
These cars were consigned to ST. Louis.
The train had passed Sheridan station
and was approaching Cork Run tun-
mel when Engineer McCabe noticed
that the train was hauling
very heavy. He Immediately reversed the
lever of the locomotive and stopped the
train, thinking that a car had jumped the
track. He, Conductor Hood and Fireman
William Carley left the engine and started
back to find out what was the trouble. AS
they walked along the side of the train
they were surprised to see that two of the
cars that were loaded with the rifles and
ammunition had been broken open. They
peered into the darkness and indistinctly
saw the forms of five men STOPPING over
several boxes of guns that had been broken.
A rifle protruded over the edge of the door
of one of the cars. The men, it was dis
covered when q lamp was secured, had
THEIR FACES CONCEALED
by red handkerchiefs tied around, leaving
only space for their eyes and mouths.
The train robbers, as soon rs they saw
that they were discovered at their work,
Jumped out of the doors of the cars and
started to run away. The engineer and
fireman gave the alarm and Conductor
Hood and the crew were summoned. Fire
man Carley, Conductor Hood and one of
the brakemen started after three of the
gang, while the engineer and conductor
followed the others who took an opposite
course. Carley and the brakeman caught
up to the three they were following, when
one of the men turned suddenly, and strik-
ing the brakeman, knocked him down.
Carley continued his pursuit, and
when within ten feet Of the man
that he was in the rear, he stopped
TO pick up a stone. The man suddenly
turned and drawing q revolver shot at
Carley while he was still stopping. The
ball whizzed passed his head and struck
him in the thigh, going clear through his
leg. Carley fell over ana i'll moment the
snow which covered the earth was red with
the blood which flowed from his wound.
| All the robbers succeeded i'll escaping, and
the trainmen hurried to their companion,
who was shot A surgeon was summoned
who succeeded in stopping the flow OF
blood. Carley was then brought to this
CITY and removed to his home at No. IFS
Wylie avenue.
1t is thought the robbers
sECRETED THEMSELVES
in the cars before the train left the city,
and that as soon rs they were beyond the
city limits forced open the doors. They
then bro le open the car doors and threw
out n number of guns and n quantity OF
ammunition This is proven, AZ trainmen
this morning discovered n number of Win
chester rifles lying near Sheridan station.
1t is thought the men got away with some
of the arms. Several theories have been
advanced rs to why the cars were selected
that were loaded with arms. II is thought
by some persons that the gang may have
been Anarchists and that they were trying
| A., iA,. for f,,tt trn
use. They evidently seemed TO have
known beforehand what were the cOnteDts
of the cars, rs both cars that were broken
open contained arms.
Fireman VIM. Carley was seen this
morning lying in bed at his home at No,
I7s Wylie avenue His wound has been
recently dressed aud he was resting cOm-
paratively easy. When asked about his
experience he said, after substantiating the
story as given above: "We had not entered
the tunnel when we discovered that the
train was pulling heavy. / think that the
men put on the brakes, as they evidently
knew that if they got into the tunnel they
would be in trap. The man who shot
me was tall and of robust build. ] could
not see his features, "a his face was COW
cred with a handkerchief. In the cars n
number of the satchels and gun boxes had
been broken open. | am feeling ~ well
as could he expected, but my leg is so sore
that | can't move it.
Carley then showed where he had been
shot. The ball was from 3S-calibre re-
volver. 1t had gone clear through the
thigh, and barely grazed the femoral ar
tery. Had the artery been severed he
would probably have bled to death before
a surgeon could be summoned. He il a
Young married man about 30 years of age.
lie has a magnificent physique, which will
help him pull through all right The
trainmen this morning were loud in theiI
praise of the bravery of Carley and other
members of the crew who pursued the
train robbers, all Of whom were heavily
armed.